Prologue
There’s an old saying:
You should never pick up a black-haired beast carelessly.
It wasn’t exactly the proverb she remembered, but Emilina thought it was close enough. With a heavy sigh, she sank into her restless thoughts.
After all, it felt like her life had gone astray ever since she picked up that black-haired beast.
And the reason she was thinking about it now had happened just moments ago.
At the victory ball celebrating the war against the Kingdom of Genova, the hero of it all—Duke Kirzen Ditrio—suddenly approached Emilina.
“Emilina Klein?”
The very man who had never once blinked at the attention of nobles suddenly called her out, specifically.
The gazes in the hall turned sharply toward them.
The unexpected spotlight made Emilina feel suffocated.
Kirzen, however, didn’t care at all.
Instead, he smiled leisurely as he closed the distance between them.
Leaning slightly forward, he whispered in a voice only she could hear:
“Did you not once pick up a black… no, a dark-furred cat?”
“…What?”
“I believe you called him Kir.”
His calm voice carried absolute certainty.
Emilina stammered in confusion.
“H-how do you know about that?”
Kirzen only smiled faintly, brushing the loose strands of her hair back behind her ear with tender fingers.
It was the kind of gesture one might make toward a beloved.
Other ladies might have swooned at the act, but Emilina felt an instinctive unease and slapped his hand away.
The Kirzen she knew was not someone who would ever behave this way.
He withdrew his hand with a bitter smile.
“He told me himself.”
“…And why should I believe that?”
“Whether you believe me or not is your choice. But… don’t you wish to see him again?”
“…I do, but…”
What does that have to do with you? Emilina bit back the words, watching him cautiously.
There was a mischievous smile curling at his lips.
He was clearly scheming something—but what?
“It’s been ten years. Why are you seeking me out now?”
“Because he’s lonely every night.”
“…Excuse me?”
Her bafflement only lasted a moment, for Kirzen’s next words came with startling seriousness.
“He misses you so dearly he has fallen ill.”
“…”
“And so… I have a request to make of you.”
He stroked his chin, as though weighing his words. Silence stretched between them.
What kind of request takes this much hesitation? Emilina swallowed hard.
As the uncomfortable quiet pressed down, she fidgeted with the hem of her dress. Then, in a low voice, Kirzen spoke.
“Will you become my wife?”
His words sent a ripple of shock through the hall.
Gasps of disbelief sounded from all around.
Emilina, the person in question, could only stare at him with wide eyes.
“…What did you just say?”
“I asked you to marry me.”
His voice was gentle, almost affectionate, as he repeated himself.
And without warning, he lifted her hand and pressed his lips to it.
A strange, shuddering feeling ran through her.
She tried to pull her hand back in alarm, but he didn’t let go.
Instead, he clasped her more firmly—not painfully, but with unmistakable possession.
As Emilina sputtered in stunned protest, Kirzen spoke again, satisfaction in his eyes.
“You need only bring yourself.”
In his golden gaze, desire flickered—predatory, like the hunger of a beast before seizing its prey.
Emilina was utterly dumbfounded.
Is this man out of his mind?
“How on earth does that conclusion even make sense?”
“Do you dislike the idea of marrying me?”
“Of course I—!”
It was nonsense, that’s why!
She had to restrain the urge to shout at him.
“Marriage isn’t a child’s game. Our statuses alone are worlds apart.”
“That isn’t an obstacle.”
“We literally just met today!”
“Then we’ll simply keep meeting from now on.”
“Who says? I have no intention of ever seeing you again.”
“But you will. Inevitably.”
His unyielding reply made her exhale a deep, weary sigh.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I have absolutely no—none, zero!—intention of meeting you again.”
Her resolute glare made him give a troubled smile.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. On paper, we are already husband and wife.”
“…You must be joking.”
“I’m only telling you the truth.”
“How could that possibly be true? I never gave consent. Did you forge illegal documents?”
“You really know nothing of it, then.”
He gave a wry smile, then explained calmly.
“The marriage registration was approved through official channels. Nothing illegal.”
“That’s absurd. I was never informed of such a thing—!”
And then it struck her.
By law, there was one circumstance under which consent wasn’t required.
Eyes widening, Emilina scanned the hall.
And there, averting his gaze in the distance—stood her father, Mactren Klein.
Oh no…
No, it can’t be.
This was practically a forced marriage!
She turned back to Kirzen, aghast.
He met her stunned eyes with an unhurried, gentle smile.
“When I told your father I intended to take you as my wife, he gave me his blessing.”
Please make sure my daughter is happy, he had even said.
The soothing timbre of his voice lingered at her ear.
His gaze told her not to look away from the truth.
“This… this can’t be happening…”
A husband—without her even knowing it?
How could this be real?
And of all people, it had to be him.
This was bad.
Terribly bad.
How had she ended up entangled with him?
As Emilina thought back, she realized with a sinking heart…
It all began the moment she picked up that little black cat named Kir.
